Apartment Investment and Management Company (Aimco) received the loan needed to redevelop Lincoln Place.

Being one of the country’s largest owners and operators of apartments, Aimco received the largest unsubsidized loan ever insured by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. It amounted to $190.7 millions and it was awarded October 12.

The money will be used to re-furbish 696 existing apartments and to build an additional 99 units in 13 new buildings. When all finished, Lincoln Place will have the same number of units as it did in 1951, when its construction was finished. Aimco had bulldozed 13 buildings containing 99 units, and the replacements will not increase density or height at the apartment complex.

“History cannot be re-created,” said Amanda Seward about the construction that could start anytime now. However, the new buildings “have to be somewhat compatible, with the same height and set-back” as those demolished following what is considered to be the biggest eviction day in Los Angeles history, which took place on December 6, 2005.

Construction is not set to complete until the fourth quarter of 2014, with existing units set to be refurbished by the second quarter of 2013.

Although an agreement was reached between Aimco and the Tenants’ Association in May of 2010, evicted tenants were not allowed to return until April of 2012, six and a half years after being evicted. Originally 83 tenants were allowed to return, but some of those had moved on and were not able to re-locate again, and opted to receive monetary compensations instead.

Returning tenants moved in paying their original rent amounts plus “any authorized increases in rent that had been approved by the housing department for low-income units in the interim,” Seward said. All original units will be rented out to new tenants at market value and will be under rent control, which limits the amount of rent increase per year.

The new 99 units that are to be built, however, will be rented out at market value and will not be under rent control, as only those units built before 1979 are required to follow rent-control payment increases.

“Overall I am very pleased with the outcome – that’s what we wanted – for it to be preserved,” Seward said of the agreement between Aimco and the Tenants’ Association. As an attorney specializing in historical preservation, Seward’s volunteer efforts to save the apartment complex were instrumental in saving it.

Lincoln Place is now on the State and National Register of Historic Places and it is designated as a local historical-cultural monument. Constructed between 1949 and 1951, its design team was led by Ralph A. Vaughn, an African-American architect interested in the Garden City Movement, which combined the amenities of urban life with ready access to nature. Its open green space, including almost 400 trees present on the property, will be preserved.

“It is specifically stated in the agreement that Lincoln Place is not to become a gated community,” Seward said. The new swimming pool that the developers are planning to add to the living complex will be gated, however, as all pools have to be by law.

It’s nice to see life creeping back into what has been hundreds of empty apartments for the past almost seven years. Aimco had originally planned to tear down all structures and build taller, bigger buildings that would have further increased the population density and the traffic congestion on Lincoln Blvd. Congratulations and thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who have staged a historical battle that received national attention.

The Beachhead itself was instrumental in winning this long, hard battle by taking a strong stand against another big investor moving into our community and changing it to further maximize his profits.

For a complete list of names, organizations, legal battles and all other events that lead to this victory, see http://bit.ly/TQS5i0.

The cats at Lincoln Place need our help again. The cats and the Stray Cat Alliance need our help fast. The Stray Cat Alliance is the organization that has most substantively stepped in and worked tirelessly to guarantee the safety and survival of the cat population at Lincoln Place. The past two weeks has been something remarkable in the advancement of justice thanks to the Alliance.

If you have followed this story, last reported on in the July issue of the Beachhead (by Barbara Eisenberg) then you know that Lincoln Place has, for years, had a stray cat population. Lincoln Place, as most Venetians know, of course, is the apartment complex just “east of Lincoln” (behind Ralphs) that has often been at the center of controversy for the actions of its management company, AIMCO. The controversies have related to evicting tenants in cavalier fashion and simply shutting down living access to the facility while a legal issue ensued over AIMCO’s desire to convert the property away from affordable housing. AIMCO recently voiced intent to begin trapping the stray cats and turn them over the West L.A. division of the city’s animal shelter. Those of us researching the issue agree that such a trip to the shelter would probably be a death sentence for the cats.

The threat escalated almost two weeks ago when AIMCO posted notice of having secured a permit to begin trapping within days. The posting was something of a “slap in the face” to the Stray Cat Alliance (SCA) that had worked for almost two years at feeding and caring for the cats. SCA’s efforts also included spay/neutering the cats, along with vaccinating, microchipping and some veterinary services. SCA spent thousands of dollars on these efforts and reduced the cat population from over one hundred to less than twenty five.

When the trapping notices were posted, SCA sprang into action and filed suit in L.A. Superior Court to enjoin AIMCO from proceeding with the cat extinction. SCA quickly secured an “ex parte” hearing (before the October 23 trapping commencement) and attorneys for both SCA and AIMCO appeared for oral argument. Judge John Reid ruled for SCA giving a temporary injunction to prevent AIMCO’s trapping or proceeding with construction activities that would threaten the cats. This ruling is an exciting result because it could lead to “precedent setting law” in cases where an animal welfare organization is correctly claiming legal rights to, and “ownership” of creatures being protected. In addition to the injunction, a hearing was set for November 9 to revisit the issue, and on SCA’s right to bring suit. However, the November 9 date will probably be vacated. Why? Because in the meantime, after the injunction, AIMCO has (interestingly) “come to the table” in dialog with SCA. The result is that SCA and AIMCO have come to an agreement. SCA has access to Lincoln Place to continue removing the remaining cats. Details of the agreement between SCA and AIMCO may be available as we go to press (but for now are private between SCA and AIMCO). The temporary injunction and the temporary sigh of relief mean that the cats will enjoy a “no kill” situation under the auspices of the Stray Cat Alliance.

The next step is finding homes for the cats. That is where we, fellow Venetians, can come in and help. We can come together as a community because a “stressed out” nonprofit like SCA can’t do it all. The SCA has come this far (and done great work), but is in dire need now to find homes for the Lincoln Place cats. This may be more than the usual challenge because some selected darlings from Lincoln Place will be “special needs” cats. Some of these cats have lived feral lifestyles in various degrees. So, some may be “semi-feral,” or some could be very unsociable (true ferals that must be “back yard cats” for now) and others may be harder to place due to visible characteristics rendering them “not pretty enough.” Some, on the other hand, may be handsome felines, docile and completely adoption-ready.

Having said that, please consider adopting one of the Lincoln Place cats, and help us spread the word that the Alliance has these cats available. You can visit SCA’s web site at www.straycatalliance.org for contact information. In lieu of adoption, you can make a donation or sponsor a cat. SCA also needs volunteers for activities at Lincoln Place to complete this project. The web site displays the appropriate buttons and menus for whatever option you choose. It is a fun site with photos of cats up for adoption.

You can make a difference in the lives of these amazing creatures. Please open your hearts and your homes to these cats. It just takes enormous love, that’s all.

For many years a resident at Lincoln Place Apartments has been hoarding cats. Without spaying and neutering the cats, they have been producing kittens and more kittens which have grown up and produced more kittens. The problem in itself has been very disturbing as they were not well cared for, not enough food, no vaccination shots, and/or no medications for those which were ill.

Now AIMCO, the owner of Lincoln Place, has refused to allow any loose cats on the property. They say that all cats which are found outside will be trapped and removed from the property. The fate for these cats is unknown.

With the assistance of wonderful, all volunteer, ladies from the Stray Cat Alliance organization many of the cats have been spayed or neutered and given immunizations. The current kittens have been bathed to remove fleas and been given their first rounds of immunizations, as well.

Most of the adults are very well socialized and love to be petted, brushed, get chin scratching. Some are incredible athletes with leaps that are Olympic worthy.

I have played with many of them and they do not bite or scratch when playing.

These loveable felines all need homes and as quickly as possible due to the previously explained situation.

If you are not able to adopt or foster, perhaps you could make a small donation for the ongoing spay/neuter process, which will continue until all the kitties are accounted for.

Six years after they were booted out of their homes by corporate landlord AIMCO, happy tenants began returning to newly refurbished apartments on April 15.

Evictees and their union, the Lincoln Place Tenant Association, plus a large number of Venice activists, never stopped fighting against the largest single-day eviction in Los Angeles County history.

They set up a tent city, held rallies, hired lawyers, won historical status, got Councilmember Bill Rosendahl’s support, and had lots of media coverage in the Beachhead and elsewhere. AIMCO finally agreed to restore the tenants to the vacant Apartment complex of nearly 800 units.

The process is slow going, only about a dozen of around 50 people have moved in so far. AIMCO hasn’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat. Instead it has attached a number of “small print” restrictions on tenants that has caused a number of them to delay moving back until the lease language is modified. If AIMCO relents, the evictees will be back in their remodeled apartments by the end of May. Otherwise, the process may drag on for several more months. One unhappy evictee said, “it seems that AIMCO is still trying to drive people away.”

The remodeling of the apartments set aside for the returning tenants is nearly complete. AIMCO was to begin work on refurbishing the remaining several hundred units as agreed with the Los Angeles County Labor Federation which is providing an all union workforce. However, rumors are circulating that AIMCO may instead prioritize development on the empty lots (where apartments were illegally bulldozed several years ago). Similar looking, but more expensive apartments, will be built on these lots.

Everyone knows I love Venice, and always will. I’ve just become a little dismayed at the direction things seem to be heading these days, and feel like it should be discussed, pondered and helped.

I recently had to move out of the rent-controlled apartment I’d lived in since the late 90’s. I had a nightmare of a situation for years with an overly entitled landlord who liked to let himself into my place whenever he liked and do whatever he felt like, which I don’t even like to think about. I had witnesses/neighbors tell me about seeing him go in and stay for an hour or so. I’d have friends stay over with just the guest key that works in the doorknob come back and be locked out because both locks were locked – meaning he’d been in there again. I make my bed each day like a military person, and I’d come home to see a sitting mark he hadn’t even bothered to smooth out, right next to my pile of laundry.

My brother once awoke from a nap to find him coming out of my bedroom, and when startled upon seeing my brother, made up some thing about checking smoke detectors. The last time I know of it happening for sure, I was at home at my desk writing and heard keys in the doorknob, but I’d dead-bolted it so he couldn’t get in. Scary! I confronted him and he made up something about needing to look at the plumbing. Yeah. Right. We all know this is illegal. I stayed because it was old school cheap rent. Rents for tiny little bachelors were now more than I paid for a two bedroom, and when I confronted him about it, he lowered my rent even further. Uh, guilty.

It’s a long, ugly story that finally wound up in civil court for our rent dispute (He should be in criminal court, of course, but we never got that video proof the police, the Housing Board, tenant lawyers, et al wanted. My word against his. His spendy lawyer versus me representing myself, plus I’m so over it and never want to deal with the guy again in my lifetime …). It’s really a blessing in a great disguise. I put up with that deviant situation for WAAAAAY too long, all because Venice has gotten so expensive over the years, and writing is a very financially up and down life choice, so I played it “safe”. Which turned out to be very unsafe, by the very person I was paying for years to live in a safe place. Yep.

So I got out. I’m extra blessed to have some fantastic Venice friends who invited me to stay at their place while they were away, while I looked for a new place. NOT easy, considering how much Venice has changed since I last house-hunted, and truthfully, how greedy people have become. Total shit holes are going for $3,000 a month! Good luck with that. Anyway, Moving Day came and I had to put over a decade’s worth of stuff into storage (after I’d already put most of the stuff out on the curb and watched it disappear immediately. This was fun. I’d do little themes – a straw hat, a hula-hoop and a ukulele. Art supplies and paper. A cowboy hat and boots. On and on and all gone in 60 seconds. Signs of the times, I suppose. I only saw one of the people who actually took the stuff, but he seemed jazzed.).

I’d heard all about the raids/sweeps on the homeless living on that stretch of 3rd and Rose that has become a bit of a West Side Skid Row, where the police come through and throw all of peoples’ worldly possessions in the trash if they’re not watching them themselves. It was a cold and rainy day and I had a whole bunch of freshly laundered blankets, towels, old jackets and stuff that could go to Goodwill, or straight to the people that really need them. So, upon leaving the storage building at 4th and Rose with my two dear friends who were helping me move, I got out on 3rd and went up to the nearest guy sitting on the sidewalk, explained I knew about the raids, and asked if he wanted to take whatever he wanted and share the rest with people on the block. He was stoked, I felt better, everybody wins.

Until driving away about a block later, we see police lights flash behind us to pull over. Great. As if I hadn’t already been having the longest day possible, and was nowhere near done. My friends are Aussies and were driving a borrowed pickup, so the “license and registration” request was already out of the norm. I was in the backseat of the cab, and we were all asked for our licenses. One cop was on the driver’s side, the other on the passenger. The passenger side one was a little dickhead who I’ll forever regret not noting his name, but I was upset and forgot to. Here’s why.

“The reason I pulled you over was you were just seen leaving a high narcotic trafficking zone. What business did you have there?”

“Oh, we’re helping my mate move.”

“Uh huh. Have you met her before today? What’s her name?”

“Uh, CJ”

I mean the guy was implying I was a crack whore right to my face!! I know I was in sweats and no makeup with pigtails, but I don’t think I fit the casting, even so. I was getting SEETHING mad, and then –

“We have undercover agents working in the area, who saw you in an exchange with a man on the street.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about the sweeps on the homeless here, and I’m moving, so I gave them a bunch of blankets and stuff. It’s cold and raining.”

“What did you get in exchange?”

Uh, a warm heart. Is this guy kidding me?! Then his smarmy little mouth I wanted to slap comes up with this outrageous deal –

“Ma’am, are you out on parole? On probation?”

“No, Sir.” (That took everything I had to not just unleash the fury I had building, but I didn’t need it to get worse, as I still had a whole household to move and very limited time)

“Have you been taking narcotics today? Been drinking? The reason I’m asking is why are your eyes so dilated?”

Hmmm … I don’t know, maybe because I’m exhausted, have been crying, have had no sleep, am having one of the most stressful times of my life. Oh, and shooting heroin real quick while I’m moving heavy items. WHAT?!?! I was PISSED. So he took our licenses back to the cop car and did whatever they do, while my friends urged me to remain calm. After a bunch of minutes, they came back and returned our licenses, asked some more b.s. questions about where did I live, where was I moving to, and suggested we avoid the area in the future. I couldn’t even look at the guy. If I ever see him off-duty, it’s on. Getting accused of being a crack whore for giving away clean blankets to the homeless?! I’ve really heard it all now.

This is what concerns me … If people are going to get in trouble for trying to help the homeless, then they won’t. They’ll stop trying. And then what becomes of us as a society? It’s already happening, obviously, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Venice began as a bohemian place for artists and writers and musicians and creative people that moved here because the rents were cheap and there was a true spirit of fun, camaraderie, and the art of living that set it apart from anywhere else. We cannot let that die. I’m pretty sure no one WANTS to be homeless. It always helps to try on someone else’s shoes before you judge – or bust – them. Landlords don’t HAVE to jack up rents just because they can. That disgusting “Silicon Beach” nickname being tossed around/Google moving in doesn’t have to squelch out the whimsical flame that has always burned here. Every store and restaurant doesn’t have to be fancy and insanely overpriced – those are choices. Choices based on greed.

There is a reason the Occupy Movement began across the country and the entire world, and all of the above illustrates why perfectly. The greed of some cannot be sustained. There will be an implosion. The ones who have always had each other’s backs will be the ones who continue to, and the ones who turned their backs will regret it in the end. That’s why I wasn’t too bothered ultimately about my creepy landlord deal, because after all is said and done, I still get to be me, and he has to fester in his dirty skin and mind. People who help others get to feel good, and the ones who don’t, well … I don’t really know, ‘cause that’s never been me, but I can’t imagine it’s at all rewarding at the end of it all to have a fat bank account with an empty heart.

I always go back to my favorite Einstein quote, as it’s really all that matters … “Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.” Amen. Let us hope that Venice can remember not only its humanity, but its origins, and remain true to who we should and can be.

It’s been more than six years since the biggest eviction in Los Angeles history drove more than 80 residents of Lincoln Place Apartments out of their homes early on the morning of Dec. 5, 2005.

The apartment complex located behind Ralphs and Ross, with nearly 800 units, is the largest in Venice.

Thanks to corporate owner, AIMCO (Apartment Investment and Management Company), the 40 acres of garden apartments have stood empty as greedy owners squared off against tenants and the community.

A years-long battle for justice, which gained support from Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, but not the Mayor, finally resulted in AIMCO dropping its plans to raze the apartments and build 1,000 condominiums in their place.

A combination of court decisions and direct action ended with the corporate owner agreeing to restore the evicted tenants to their homes and to rehab all apartments, which will ultimately be available to rent.

The empty apartments will be renovated over several years with the same exteriors, but with upgraded interiors.

New tenants will have to pay market rates, but increases will be regulated by rent control and the Housing Dept. Returning evictees will pay the same rents as in 2005.

At least 64 evicted families will reoccupy their homes in April. They will be grouped in apartments behind Ross.

“We’re looking forward to reestablishing our community,” said Sheila Bernard, President of the Tenants Union. “We’re hoping Lincoln Place will do for new residents what it did for us, that is, give them a sense of belonging.”

Amanda Seward’s story of the victorious struggle of Lincoln Place tenants began in last month’s Beachhead. You can read it from the beginning at http://bit.ly/d6dy8c.

By Amanda Seward

Several eviction lawyers offered advice and legal forms that accelerated our learning curve. Eviction Defense Network attorneys Elena Popp, Robert Reed and Leah Simon-Weisberg helped, as well as Steve Collier from the famous Tenderloin Housing Clinic in San Francisco who had tremendous experience in Ellis Act evictions, a state law that allows owners to evict tenants if the owner intends to get out of the rental business. It was the Ellis Act that the owners of Lincoln Place invoked to evict the tenants.

Susan Brandt-Hawley, a California Environment Quality Act (”CEQA”) lawyer, graciously wrote a letter to the State Historic Preservation Officer offering a legal response to AIMCO’s attorneys’ last-ditch argument that the historic designation process violated CEQA. I remember being very grateful that I did not need to try and become, overnight, a CEQA expert.

The Attorney General’s office took the lead in the case brought by the owner against the State Historic Resources Commission and me, as the author of the nomination. In the second lawsuit against us challenging the designation, the Commission did not settle and the designation was upheld. I learned a lot from the lawyering skills of Deputy Attorney General Gary Tavetian.

Media coverage also played a role in this story. Bob Pool wrote a feature in his inimitable story-telling style regarding the preservation efforts, which was published in the Los Angeles Times. I think he admired us for trying, but did not think we would pull it off. Roger Templeton of theVenice Paper attended and reported a key vote of the State Historic Resources Commission in Fresno. He and Tibby Rothman, then editor of theVenice Paper, covered material aspects of the story over the years, as did The Argonaut, the Santa Monica Mirror, the Santa Monica Daily Press, Daily Journal, the LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times. Jim Smith and the Free Venice Beachhead could not have been more supportive. Jim never let the “he says, she says” form of reporting in the name of neutrality confuse him; he called it the way he saw it. The Free Venice Beachhead could have been titled the Lincoln Place Chronicles. I also appreciated the thoughtful acknowledgement of Christopher Hawthorne, the Los Angeles Times architecture critic, who wrote in an article that Lincoln Place was an important example of the low rise garden apartment that was part of Los Angeles’ legacy in bringing sophistication to the affordable home. Peggy Clifford, the former editor of the Santa Monica Mirror was relentless in her support. Terrence Lyons, also of the Mirror became a familiar face covering all aspects of the story during all the ups and downs. Martha Groves of the Los Angeles Times once overheard me digging up information at the public counter in the Planning Department and gave me her card asking me to call her and keep her updated on what was going on. Linda Immediato of the LA Weekly went so far as to interview each City Council person to get their office’s response to the controversy and reported each response prominently.

Local broadcast media covered the preservation efforts as well as the evictions. The Spanish-language stations broadcast the visuals of the evictions repeatedly. We often had trouble with the media merely repeating what the owner said without giving us a chance to respond. The Spanish-language stations consistently reported our side of the story.

The images of us demonstrating at the home of then City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to protest the lack of support from the City Attorney’s office under Delgadillo’s leadership also drew attention to our cause. KCRW featured a debate about our story and KCET featured it in a web documentary. NPR also took interest and featured the controversy in a report about housing in the United States. Getting the story out was important to help hold all decision makers accountable and to let people know this was an important issue. The media committee, headed by Judy Branfman and Clare Sassoon, worked tirelessly to get coverage.

Linda Dishman and the Los Angeles Conservancy were instrumental in the preservation effort. The Conservancy sponsored a free walking tour of the complex that was designed to educate decision makers and leaders in the community on the rich history and architectural importance of Lincoln Place. Linda also provided testimony in favor of the nomination and helped me prepare for an important presentation. She advised me to focus on my own story about Lincoln Place rather than to allow opposition arguments to define the presentation. It was one of the best presentations I gave on the nomination.

The Conservancy also participated, along with the California Preservation Foundation and the National Association of Minority Architects, and 20th Century Architecture Alliance, in litigation challenging the demolition of some of the buildings on the property.

The case established that the demolition was illegal and stopped future demolitions until certain conditions were met. This gave us time to firm up the historic nomination in the interim.

I also would like to thank David Busch for his leadership on Tent City. David is a homeless community activist who led efforts to staff our “symbolic” encampment, where we held around-the-clock vigils to demonstrate the plight of the homeless and the lack of affordable housing. David made it safe for us to be there through the night. Up until about 11:00 p.m., sitting at Tent City was like sitting around a campfire with friends. But after that, it sometimes got scary. Too many people roam the streets at night, some just down on their luck and others who appear rather menacing. David knew the difference; he engaged the former and encouraged the latter to move on, while treating everyone with respect.

One of the people we met there one night had gone to college with Councilman Eric Garcetti and true to his word he appeared at a City Council meeting and spoke on our behalf. Councilman Garcetti recognized this fellow and it made for a more personal engagement about the lack of affordable housing and the importance of saving Lincoln Place.

Speaking of City Council members, Bill Rosendahl was wonderful. Councilman Rosendahl and I had our differences over preservation; he saw the fight as people over buildings. I argued that for no other reason, he should see preservation of the buildings as an effective strategy to support the people by ensuring that quality affordable and workforce housing could not be so easily demolished. He rose above our conflict and was there for everything we needed. Without his support and the hard work of his staff, we would not have reached settlement. He made Lincoln Place his number-one issue. His staff, especially Mike Bonin, Mark Antonio Grant, Norman Kulla, and Arturo Piña, assisted us in every conceivable way.

Many other Venetians acted as consultants or participated in one or more of the three settlement attempts over the years. Steve Clare advised us on affordable housing issues. Linda Lucks helped us with the Mayor’s office and community outreach. Jataun Valentine assisted with community outreach and spoke at various City Council and community meetings in support of Lincoln Place tenants. Frank Murphy, William Garner, and Joseph Murphy of Venice Collaborative tutored me on real estate development issues. Other activists and community leaders helped, including Aris Anagnos, Elinor Aurthur (deceased), Jim Bicker, Marianne Brown, Larry Gross, Dennis Hathaway, DeDe McCrary (deceased), Stan Muhammad, Mindy Taylor- Ross, Sabrina Venskus, and Laddie Williams. Rick Tuttle, a former controller for the City of Los Angeles, gave us invaluable advice on organizing political support, testified before the City Council, and lobbied for us behind the scenes. Many hosted or attended house parties and contributed to the LPTA. All of these and other local leaders argued our case to anyone who might be inclined to oppose our efforts, and through their work, we were able to present a united front.

Negotiations for peace commenced and failed twice. Only the third time did we reach agreement and close the book on a twenty year controversy. The settlement negotiations were another adventure in themselves. But briefly, settlement required the support of the owner of the property, the preservationists, the tenants, the community and various city departments and took years of negotiation assisted by judges, mediators and arbitrators. The Mayor’s office, the Housing Department, the Department of Water and Power, the City Council, and the City Attorney’s office all played a part in moving the settlement forward.

Along with the preservation efforts and eviction cases that were my focus, there were many lawsuits and grassroots campaigns over the years, causing more than one judge to call it the Lincoln Place saga. This letter does not attempt to recall the entire saga and does not attempt to recognize all those who contributed to the struggle to save Lincoln Place. There were companion battles and battles that preceded my involvement, including, for example, the political opposition led by Ruth Galanter, then City Council member, and the legal efforts from lawyers engaged over the years by the tenants including Jan Chatten-Brown, Amy Minteer, Susan Brandt-Hawley, Elena Popp, John Murdock and his team, and Noel Weiss. And I am sure others have been overlooked. Also, it is not intended that AIMCO and its representatives are painted as villains. The company’s executives and its representatives came around to make this a win-win victory. This is merely my thank you and acknowledgments for the work of our team.